Drive for textile machines having coilers



Jan. 3, 1967 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,295,170

DRIVE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES HAVING COILERS Filed Dec. 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

goE E. WHYTEHUR$T A TTOE/VE V5 Jan. 3, 1967 J. R. WHITEHURST DRIVE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES mwme COILERS 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1965 4/111 III 1957 J. R. WHITEHURST DRIVE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES HAVlNG COILERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1963 'HMER Z47 FAULT STOP MO'HON ZIO $|GNAL bEwcE:

Jan. 3, 1967 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,295,170

DRIVE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES HAVING COILERS Filed Dec. 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 3, 1967 J. R. WHITEHURST DRIVE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES HAVING COILERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1965 INVENTOR.

JOE E. WHITEHURST aiimmw A T TOP/V5 5 5 United States Patent Ofiice 3,295,17fi Patented Jan. 3, 1987 3,25,170 DREVE FQR TEXTELE MACHINE HAVHNG COILERS Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filled Dec. 6, 3.963, Ser. No. 328,548 2 Claims. (Cl. 19-236) This invention relates to textile machinery, such as drawing frames for drafting and coiling slivers into cans.

During the past ten to fifteen years, the speed at which drawing frames are capable of producing sliver has increased from an average of about 125 feet per minute to more than 800 feet per minute, and as greater speeds are attained, it becomes more difficult to coil sliver into cans elficiently and Without adversely affecting the sliver due to the increased velocity of the sliver and the increased centrifugal force imparted to the sliver as it leaves the eccentric throat or orifice of the rotating coiler plate.

The upper end of the coiler can is usually spaced about three inches below the coiler plate of the usual tube gear or its equivalent as the sliver is being delivered thereto so the can may be tilted, as is necessary, when installing or removing the same from the recessed or ridged turntable which supports and rotates the can relative to the coiler plate. The three-inch space also permits the operator to press the coiled sliver into the can when piecing up a broken end Without removing the can from the turntable.

At sliver production speeds of about 250 feet per minute and under, the coiling of sliver into the can has not been difiicult because of the low centrifugal force imparted to the sliver emanating from the throat of the ro tating coiler plate. However, due to the increased linear speed of the sliver and the increased centrifugal force imparted thereto as it leaves the coiler plate throat, sliver production speeds above 250 feet per minute have created serious problems in the coiling of sliver into cans during initial starting periods of the machine and any restarting periods during the run. It is apparent that such problems have become more acute as greater production speeds have been attained.

Upon starting the machine at such increased or high speeds with an empty or partially filled can on the coiler turntable, the sliver is thrown over the upper edge of the can with attendant irregular over-stretching or breaking of the sliver and/ or the sliver is initially deposited in the can in the form of a haphazard mass or pile which subsequent ly falls over, instead of forming the desired uniform coils. Thus, after the can has been filled and defied, the mass in the can cannot be withdrawn efficiently in subsequent processes and sometimes has to be reprocessed as waste.

The problem of the sliver being thrown over the edges of empty coiler cans upon starting the drawing frame has been reduced somewhat by providing a segmental shield or sliver bumper depending from the spectacle plate, extending through an arc of approximately 120 degrees, located closely adjacent to but outwardly of the vertical plane of the coiler can, and having its lower edge terminating above the upper edge of the coiler can to assist in deflecting the sliver into the coiler can as it emanates from the coiler plate without interfering with the portion of the mass of coiled sliver subsequently formed and extending between the upper edge of the can and the spectacle plate and the coiler plate.

A segmental sliver bumper is used, instead of a circular sliver bumper, because of the coiler plate or tube gear being positioned in eccentric relation to the axis of the can and turntable and being of substantially lesser diameter than the coiler can. Generally, the radius of the path of the throat of the rotating coiler plate is approximately two-thirds of the radius of the usual coiler can, although this may vary in different installations. Also, if the sliver bumper was so formed as to encircle the vertical plane of the periphery of the coiler can, it would serve no useful purpose clue to the eccentricity of the coiler plate with respect to the can and, more importantly, it would then interfere with the doffing of filled cans and the donning of empty cans.

Even though a segmental shield of the character described may be used, the initial formation of a haphazard mass or pile in the aforementioned manner cannot be avoided when starting the machine at high speed due to the uncontrollable whipping action imparted to the sliver by the high speed rotation of the throat of the coiler plate.

Inthe filling of a coiler can on a drawing frame, only a relatively small amount of sliver is required to be coiled therein in order that the sliver will fill the space from the bottom of the coiler can, or from a false bottom therein, to the spectacle plate and coiler plate. Thereafter, the sliver coils are compressed until the desired amount of sliver has been coiled in the can to form a filled can.

When a drawing frame is stopped for any reason during the run after the amount of coiled sliver in the can is such that it presses against the lower surfaces of the spectacle plate and the coiler plate, restarting the drawing frame at high speed produces a superficial draft in the sliver before the winding tension therein has reached its normal or static condition, thereby forming undesirable thick and thin places in the sliver. This superficial draft is caused by the fact that the surface speed of the coiler plate at its throat may be from 20 to 50 times greater than that of the can and its coiled sliver. This results in a progressive increase in the winding tension of the sliver during the build of sliver in the can. When the machine is stopped, due to the parting of the slivers entering the machine, the fibers in the sliver between the calender rolls and the throat of the coiler plate relax so that the winding tension of the sliver drops to zero, or very nearly so, within a very few seconds. Thus, when the machine is restarted at high speed, the sliver is jerked between the coiled mass and the calender rolls, thereby forming thin and uneven places in the sliver.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide an improved drive for coiler-equipped textile machines having drafting instrurnentalities, which drive overcomes the aforementioned problems and includes means for driving the instrumentalities and the coiler at a relatively slow maximum speed for a predetermined interval upon starting the machine and means for then driving the instrumentalities and the coiler at the desired high speed until such time as the machine may be stopped thereafter.

It is a more specific objectof this invention to provide means for driving a drawing frame having a main shaft operatively connected to the drafting instrumentalities and coiling means thereof, which driving means includes a motive means, preferably in the form of an electric motor, connected to said main shaft by transmission means comprising a low speed clutch and a high speed clutch. The low speed clutch is normally engaged whenever the motive means is started so the machine accelerates to a predetermined low maximum speed and remains at said low speed for a predetermined interval of time which is preferably sufiicient to permit the sliver being coiled to build up and engage the coiler plate and the .spectacle plate after the machine is initially started, and

automatically to drive the machine at a predetermined high speed until the machine is subsequently stopped, either due to a malfunction thereof or due to the can being filled with a desired maximum of compacted sliver.

It is another object of the invention to provide driving means of the character last described in which the transmission means is provided with means for adjustably varying the speed transmitted to the main shaft from the motive means through each of the clutches whereby the maximum low speed may be adjusted to accommodate various types of slivers and the high speed may be accurately predetermined so as to compensate for any variation in the speed of the various motive means associated with different drawing frames so that all the drawing frames of a particular group may operate at exactly the same high speed, as desired.

Many drawing frames are equipped with suction hoods positioned adjacent and extending longitudinally of the drafting rolls for sucking lint and foreign matter away from the same and it is therefore another object of this invention to provide driving means of the character described with safety means insuringthat the fan or suction blower for the suction cleaning system is operating before transmission of rotation from the motive means to the main shaft of the drawing frame may be effected.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows one embodiment of the driving means of the present invention in association with the schematically illustrated drafting rolls and coiling mechanism of a drawing frame, but omitting the drive between the drafting rolls and the coiling mechanism for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of two of the drafting rolls of FIGURE 1, showing the associated suction cleaning system, including a fan or suction blower, driven by one of the pulleys shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic perspective view looking at the opposite side of the drawing frame from that shown in FIGURE 1, but omitting the top'drafting rolls and showing the drive between the drafting rolls or main shaft and the coiler mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the relationship between a coiler can positioned upon the coiler turntable and the coiler head;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of one form of an electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the improved drive of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view through the .low speed and high speed clutches taken substantially along line 66 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of a portion of an electrical circuit which may be substituted for the upper portion of the circuit shown in FIGURE 5 and which serves to insure that the fan or suction blower is operating before the present drive mechanism may be operated when the blower is driven by a separate motor from that which drives the drive mechanism of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a different arrangement of the clutches which transmit rotation from the motor shaft to the main shaft of the drawing frame.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, one form of the drive mechanism of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 1 in association with a drawing frame having drafting instrumentalities 10 in the form of drafting rolls, there being four sets of top and bottom drafting rolls shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The drafting rolls 10 are driven from a main shaft 11 on which a gear 12 is fixedly mounted. The shaft 11 and gear 12 drive a train of gears 13, 14, 15, 16 at one side of the group of drafting rolls for driving some of the bottom rolls and the remaining bottom drafting rolls are driven by conventional gear trains 20, 21 located at the opposite side of the drafting rolls from the gears 12-16. The sizes of the various gears shown in FIGURE 1 are exaggerated when compared with FIGURE 3 because of the drafting rolls 10 being shown in exploded relationship in FIGURE 1.

Since the manner in which the gears or gear trains 13- 16 and 2021 are connected to the drafting rolls may beconventional and is well known, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. As is usual, the back top and bottom rolls are rotated at a relatively slow speed and the successive pairs of rolls forwardly of the same are rotated at progressively increasing speeds for drafting a plurality of slivers S (FIGURE 1) as they pass from a suitable source or cans, not shown, through a sliver guide 39, over the usual stop motion spoons 31, and thence to the drafting rolls or instrumentalities 10.

The slivers S pass from the front or delivery rolls of the drafting instrumentalities 10 to a suitable coi'ler mechanism broadly designated at 35. In their course to the coiler mechanism 35, the slivers S are brought together or condensed as they pass through a trumpet 36 and then between a pair of calender rolls 37 to a coiler plate or tube gear 39. Tube gear 39 includes an inclined coiler tube 41 whose open upper end is concentric with the axis of rotation of tube gear 39 and whose open lower end forms a throat or orifice 41 which is eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of tube gear 39 (FIG- URE 4).

As is usual, the flanged peripheral edge of tube gear 39 is normally supported for rotation on an annular projection 4 2 (FIGURE 4) on a conventional spectacle plate 43 rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, and the lower surface of coiler plate or tube gear 39 is substantially flush with the lower surface of spectacle plate 43.

Coiler mechanism 35 also includes a conventional turntable 44- (FIGURE 4) which is recessed for supporting a conventional coiler cam 45 beneath and in eccentric relation to coiler plate 39. The height of coiler can 45 relative to the distance between coiler plate 39 and turntable 44 is usually such that the upper edge of coiler can 45 is spaced from 2 /2 to 4 inches beneath coiler plate 39 and spectacle plate 43.

The coiler can 45 has a false bot-tom 46 therein which is urged upwardly by a compression spring 47 and whose upward movement is limited by suitable pliable elements or cords 50 attached to and extending between the upper and lower ends of compression spring 47. False bottom 4 6, spring 47 and cords 50 are optional equipment but are usually used in association with coiler cans used for high speed drawing, since the false bottom causes the sliver being coiled to build up thereon and contact the lower surfaces of the coiler plate 39 and spectacle plate 43 in a very short time as compared to the time required for building up the coiled sliver from the bottom of coiler can 45 to the lower surfaces of coiler plate 39 and spectacle plate 43, thereby starting the compacting of the coiled sliver earlier in the run.

The radius of the path of travel of the throat 41 of coi'ler plate 39 is substantially less than the radius of the interior of the coiler can 45, the radius of the path of travel of the throat 41 usually being approximately twothirds of the radius of the interior of the coiler can so that, as the coiler can rotates relatively slowly compared with the speed of rotation of coiler plate 37, the sliver is laid upon the false bottom 46 and in the can 45 in eccentric coils adjacent the side of the can during rotation thereof.

As is conventional, in order to assist in deflecting the sliver into can 45, the spectacle plate 43 has a segmental shield or sliver bumber 52 suitably secured thereto and depending therefrom. Sliver bumper 52 is positioned above coiler can 45 and adjacent that side of the coiler can toward which the axis of coiler plate 39 is disposed with respect to the axis of coiler can 45 and turntable 44. The segmental shield 52 usually extends through an arc of from 120 to 180 generated about the vertical axis of turntable 44 and is spaced outwardly of the vertical plane of the upper outer edge of coiler can 45' so as to not interfere with rotation of the coiler can and the coiled and sliver protruding above the upper edge of the coiler can and pressing against the lower surfaces of coiler 39 and spectacle plate 43.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the calender rolls 37 are driven by the main shaft 11 through the gear 12 and a train of gears 53-57, the latter of which is fixed on one end of one of the calender rol'ls 37. The gear 55 also transmits rotation to coiler plate 39 and turntable 44. To this end, gear 55 is fixed on a shaft 65 having a bevel gear 66 thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 67 fixed on the upper end of a coiler shaft 70. A gear 71, fixed on coiler shaft 7t), meshes with tube gear 39, and a gear-73 fixed on the lower end of coiler shaft 7t! transmits rotation to turntable 44 by means of a series or train of gears 74-76. Gear 76 is fixed to the turntable 44 in concentric relation thereto.

The drive mechanism from main shaft 11 to the drafting rolls 16, calender rolls 37, tube gear 39 and turntable 44 is conventional and is shown by way of illustration only, since it is apparent that such drive mechanism may vary on different drawing frames.

It is important to note that, as is conventional, the calender rolls are driven at a sufficiently greater surface speed than the delivery rolls of the drafting rolls 10 only to maintain a tension draft in the slivers passing from the of rotation of the throat or orifice 41 of coiler plate 39 corresponds to the linear speed at which the sliver is directed to the coiler plate from the calender rolls 37. Also, the rotational surface speed of the false bottom 46 and the mass of coiled sliver deposited thereon is slightly greater than the rotational speed of the throat 41 of coiler plate 39 to insure that the sliver is pulled through the throat 41 by rotation of the coiler can 45. How ever, in order to effect the desired build or" the sliver in the can, the rotational speed of the coiler plate or tube gear 39 is from 20 to 50 times the rotational speed of the can and turntable 44. For example, in filling 16-inch diameter cans, the tube gear 39 rotates approximately 38 times faster than the turntable 44.

The drawing frame disclosed herein is equipped with a suction clearer system for the drafting rolls of a type such as is disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,934,797, dated May 3, 1960. Such suction clearer system is exemplified schematically in FIGURE 2 wherein it is shown in association with one set of upper and lower drafting rolls 1! Each drafting roll 1% has the open side of an elongate suction nozzle or suction head 89 positioned in close proximity thereto and extending longitudinally thereof, only two of the suction heads 8% being shown in FIGURE 2. The particular construction of the suction heads 81) and the manner in Which they are supported are not germane to the present application and will not be described herein, since they may be supported and constructed in the manner disclosed in said patent. The central outer or distal portions of the upper and lower suction heads 89 have corresponding ends of conduits 3 communicatively connected thereto which are connected to a common conduit 32 leading to a suction chamber 83 which is usually formed in the head end of a drawing frame, the head end being generally designated at 84 in FIGURE 2.

The head end 84 is provided with a vertical partition 85 therein which is open and provides communication between the suction chamber 83 and an air discharge or blowing chamber 56. Chamber S6 is provided with an air impeller or fan 37 therein which is fixed on a shaft 99 suitably journaled in the head end frame member 84. Shaft 96 is driven in a manner to be later described so that air is sucked into the suction heads 89 and any lint or foreign matter sucked off the drafting rolls 10 is conveyed into the suction chamber 83. A suitable filter 91 is provided for entrapping the fiber waste thereagainst as the air flows through the opening, not shown, in the partition and is discharged through the blowing chamber 86 by the fan 87.

As is well known, drawing frames are equipped with various types of stop motion devices for detecting faults in the operation of the drawing frame and stopping the same as a result thereof, as exemplified by the spoons 31 of FIGURE 1 which are pivotally supported on an upper transverse contact bar 94 and whose rear portions drop against a lower transverse contact bar 96 upon any corresponding strands S passing thereover becoming unduly slackened or parted. Various other types of fault-actuated stop motion which may serve to operate a stop motion switch are provided on various drawing frames so as to be actuated upon any one or more of the upper drafting rolls being abnormally raised or elevated relative to the corresponding bottom drafting rolls, by choking of the sliver in the trumpet 36, or choking or parting of the sliver between the calender rolls 37 and the tube gear 39, for example, (see my US. Patent No. 2,811,753, dated November 5, 1957). Accordingly, the block 31a bearing the legend fault-responsive stop motion in the central portion of FIGURE 5 is representative of the stop motion spoons 31 (FIGURE 1) and any other types of known fault-responsive stop motion devices embodying a normally open electrical switch.

Many drawing frames currently in use are also provided with suitable full-can knock-off means for stopping the drawing frame upon the desired amount of compacted coiled silver being deposited in a coiler can positioned in the coiler mechanism thereof. In FIGURE 4, a switch 1G0, representing a suitable full-can knock-off mechanism, is shown positioned above tube gear 39. Switch 1% is shown in the form of a normally closed, double-pole push-button switch in this instance (FIG- URE 5).

The housing of switch 100 (FIGURE 4) is suitably secured to a bracket ifil fixed on spectacle plate 43 so that switch 100 overlies and is normally positioned in close proximity to, or against, the upper surface of tube gear 39. Thus, when the coiler can 4-5 has become filled with coiled sliver and the pressure in the coiled sliver against the bottom of the tube gear 39 is sufficient to elevate coiler plate 39 relative to spectacle plate 4-3, the coiler plate will engage and open the normally closed switch 108. The function of the fault-responsive stop motion 31:: of FIGURE 5, as related to the spoons 31 in FIGURE 1, and the function of the full-can knock-off switch 109 in FIGURES 4 and 5 will be later described as they operate in conjunction with the drive mechanism of the present invention, one embodiment of which will now be described.

Insofar as the present invention is concerned, all the parts of the drawing frame heretofore described may be considered as being conventional and are illustrated and described for environmental purposes only.

Both embodiments of the drive mechanism of the present invention are devised for driving the main shaft of the textile machine or drawing frame, such as the shaft 11 in FIGURES l, 3 and 6, at a relatively slow speed for a predetermined time after a filled can of sliver has been doffed and an empty can has been placed on the coiler turntable and, after the predetermined interval of time has passed, the speed of the main shaft is automatically and positively increased to a predetermined high speed. In most instances, it is desirable to restart the machine, following stoppage thereof at any time during the run, with the main shaft rotating at said predetermined relativeiy slow speed for a predetermined interval, following which the speed of the main shaft is automatically increased to said predetermined high speed.

The present invention includes means for causing the main shaft 11 of the drawing frame to start at either the low speed or the high speed, as desired, upon restarting the machine during the run. In other words, the control means for the drive may be operated, at the will of the operator, so that the drawing frame will operate at a relatively slow speed for a relatively short interval only following the doffing of each filled can, or so the drawing frame will operate at slow speed for a short interval following each and every stoppage of the drawing frame whether it be the result of a can being filled to its desired maximum capacity with coiled sliver or the result of the parting of a strand or strands or other malfunction of the drawing frame being detected by the fault-responsive stop motion 31a during the run.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that a motive means, in the form of an electric motor 105, has its driving element or shaft 106 connected to the main shaft 11 of the drawing frame by means of a transmission broadly designated at 110. The transmission includes a pair of grooved pulleys or V-pulleys 111, 112 which are of the adjustable pitch type and are keyed or otherwise secured on the driving shaft 106. Each of the V-pulleys 111, 112 may be of well-known type in which one of the flanges or cones thereof is axially adjustable relative to the other. In this instance, one of the flanges or cones of each pulley 111, 112 is keyed on shaft 106 and has its hub threaded through the tubular hub of the other of the flanges, and the other of the flanges is locked in the desired adjusted position relative to the first flange by a set screw 0.

The V-pulleys 111, 112 are engaged by respective endless V-belts 116, 117, which also engage respective low speed and high speed pulleys 121, 122 journaled on the main shaft 11. Pulleys 121, 122 are adapted to be alternatively maintained in fixed relation with main shaft 11 by means of respective low speed and high speed clutches 124, 125. Both clutches 124, 125 are normally inactive when the machine is not operating, although driving shaft 106 may be rotating. The driving pulleys 111, 112 are shown as being of substantially the same diameter, although they are adjustable. Therefore, the low speed pulley 121 is of substantially larger diameter than the high speed pulley 122.

The clutches 124, 125 may be of any desired or conventional construction and are shown in FIGURE 6 as being of the electromagnetic type such as is manufactured by Stearns Electric Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under their No. 5.5SMR and as illustrated in their drawing No. C3lO5-J, dated May 17, 1961.

In this instance, each clutch 124, 125 comprises a stator or housing 130 which loosely encircles main shaft 11 and within which the hub 131 of a rotor 132 is loosely positioned so each rotor 132 and its hub 131 may rotate relative to the stators 130. A suitable bearing 133 is provided between each stator 132 and the corresponding hub 131. In order to prevent rotation of the stators 130, their proximal ends are fixed to a suitable bracket 134 which may be suitably secured to any fixed part of the machine, such as a portion of the frame of the drawing frame indicated at F in FIGURE 6. Each rotor 132 is encircled by a magnetic coil 135 fixed to the corresponding rotor.

The stators 130 of clutches 124, 125 have respective pairs of electrical conductors d, d-1, and e, e-1 suitably connected thereto, extending into the corresponding stators 130, and being suitably connected to opposed ends of the corresponding coils 135. Since coils 135 rotate with rotors 135, the inner surface of each coil 135 may be provided with a pair of slip rings 1, g thereon, to which opposed ends of the coils 135 are suitably connected, and which engage respective brushes h, i suitably secured to, but insulated from, the adjacent face of the corresponding stator 130. Conductors e, e-1 are connected to one of the pairs of brushes h, i, and conductors d, d-1 are connected to the other pair of brushes h, i.

The hubs 131 of clutches 124, are keyed to the main shaft 11, as at (FIGURE 6). As heretofore stated, the pulleys 121, 122 are loosely mounted or journaled on main shaft 11. In this instance, each pulley 121, 122 is shown rotatably mounted on main shaft 11 by means of anti-friction bearings 141, 142. The pulleys 121, 122 are prevented from having endwise movement relative to the respective stators 130 and rotors 132 by collars 143, 144 which engage the distal surfaces of the outer anti-friction bearings 141 associated with the two pulleys 121, 122 and are fixed on main shaft 11, as by means of set screws 145, 146.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the fan 87 for the suction clearer system of FIGURE 2 is driven by the same main motor 105 which drives the drafting instrumentalities 10, calender rolls 37 and coiler mechanism, in which instance the motor circuit shown in association with the control circuit in FIGURE 5 is used. Accordingly, the driving shaft 106 of electric motor 105 has a pulley fixed thereon which is engaged by an endless belt 151 (FIGURES 1 and 2). Endless belt 151 also engages a pulley 152 fixed on the shaft 90 of fan 87. In some installations, the fan 87 may be driven by a separate motor from that employed in driving the drafting instrumentalities 10, calender rolls 37 and coiler mechanism 35. In such instances, the motor circuit of FIGURE 7 is used with the clutch control circuit in place of the motor circuit shown in the upper portion of FIG- URE 5, as will be later explained.

In the upper portion of FIGURE 5, it will be observed that the main motor 105 has three conductors 155, 156, 157 leading therefrom to corresponding sides of respective normally open relay switches 160, 161, 162. The switches 160462, along with a switch 163, are parts of an electromagnetic relay, broadly designated at 164. Switches 160162 have respective lead conductors 167 connected thereto and leading to a suitable source of three-phase high voltage electrical current, not shown.

A manually operable, normally open, motor start switch 170 serves to energize the coil 171 of relay 164 as current flows from lead conductor 166, through a conductor 172, through the coil 1'71, through a conductor 173, through the switch 170 and through conductors 174, 175 to the lead conductor 167. Upon energization of coil 171, all the switches 160463 are moved to closed position so that, when switch 170 is released, current flows from conductor 172, through coil 171, through a conductor 176, through switch 163, through a conductor 177, through a normally closed motor stop switch 180, and through the conductor 175 which is connected to the opposite side of the switch from that to which conductor 177 is connected. It is apparent that this energizes the main motor 105, at which time current is also made available to the control circuit for the electromagnetic clutches 124, 125. To this end, conductors 156, 157 have conductors 182, 183 leading therefrom to opposite ends of the primary coil 184 of a step-down transformer 185. When manual stop switch 180 is opened, this stops motor 105 and stops the fiow of current to transformer 185.

Transformer 185 includes a pair of secondary windings or coils 136, 187 to opposite ends of respective pairs of conductors 190, 191 and 192, 193 are connected. Secondary winding 186 preferably is of low voltage output of about 6 volts and secondary winding 187 is preferably of higher voltage output of about 110 volts. The control circuit is provided with a normally inactive manually operable starting member or main start switch 195, a normally open jog switch 196 and a main, normally closed, stop switch 197. The main start switch 195 nor mally maintains contact between a pair of conductors 200, 201, which extend, respectively, to conductor and to one end of the coil 202 of a fault-actuated relay broadly designated at 203. The other side of coil 202 has a conductor 294 leading therefrom to one side of the normally open fault-responsive stop motion 31a, such as the contact bar 94 associated with the spoons 31 in FIGURE 1. The other side of the fault-responsive stop motion 31a, which may be represented by the contact bar 96 in FIGURE 1, has a conductor 205 leading therefrom to a medial portion of conductor 191.

The end of conductor wlopposite from secondary winding 186 is connected to one side of the coil 207 of an electromagnetic master control relay broadly designated at 210. The other end of coil 207 has a conductor 211 extending therefrom to one of a pair of normally open contacts associated with start switch 125. The other of the latter contacts has the corresponding end of conductor 190 connected thereto.

Master control relay 210 includes three normally open switches R-ll, R2, R-Lt, and fault-actuated relay 203 includes a normally closed switch R-4 and a normally open switch R5. The main stop switch 197 normally maintains a closed circuit with relay switch R4 through conductors 213, 214 extending from conductor 190 to switch 197 and from switch 197 to one side of relay switch R-4, respectively. The other side of switch R-4 has a conductor 215 leading therefrom to one side of a normally closed switch element 216 of the full can knock-off switch 100. Switch 100 also includes a normally closed switch element 217. Both switch elements 216, 217 are moved to open position upon the tube gear 39 being raised relative to the spectacle plate 43 (FIGURE 4) by the pressure of compressed coils of sliver in the corresponding can 45.

The other sides of switch elements 216, 217 have respective conductors 220, 221 connected thereto. The other end of conductor 220 is connected to one side of switch R-3 of master control relay 207, and the other end of conductor 221 is connected to conductor 19% extending from secondary winding 186 of transformer 185. A conductor 218 extends from switch R-3 to conductor 211. A conductor 222 extends from the side of switch element 217 opposite from conductor 221 to a full-can knock-off relay K to be later described.

A conductor 223 extends from one side of an electric motor 224 of a time-delay-relay or cycling timer 226 to one side of the relay switch R4. The conductor 192 is connected to the other side of switch R-1. The relay switoh R-2 has conductors 230, 231 connected thereto and leading to conductor 192 and to one side of the input of a suitable current rectifier generally designated at 232. The other side of the input of rectifier 232 has a conductor 233 leading therefrom to conductor 193. Conductor 193 also has a conductor 235 connected thereto which may have a suitable electrically operable visual or audible signal device 236 interposed therein and whose other end is connected to one side of the normally open relay switch R-5. The other side of relay switch R5 has a conductor 237 leading therefrom to a conductor 240, one end of which is connected to conductor 192 and the other end of which is connected to one side of normally open jog switch 196. The other side of jog switch 196 has a conductor 241 extending therefrom to conductor 231.

The timer 226 may be of any suitable well-known type and is shown as being of the type manufactured by Haydon Division/ General Time Corporation, Torrington, Connecticut, under their No. BN2220. Since various types of timing devices may be used to serve the purpose of timer 226, only a general description thereof will be given.

In this instance, timer 226 comprises a frame or plate member 245 through which the shaft 246 of electric motor 224 loosely extends. A suitably graduated dial or disk 247 is fixed on motor shaft 246 and is provided with a projection 250 thereon which is normally urged into engagement with an abutment 251, carried by the frame 245,

1G by a torsion spring 252. Spring 252 also normally urges shaft 246 in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 5. The end of motor shaft 246 has a cam arm of switch actuator 253 adjustably secured thereon, as by a nut 254.

The graduations 0n the dial 247 may be arranged according to one-minute intervals so that, when the pointed end of the switch actuator or cam arm 253 is positioned adjacent any one of the characters on the dial 247, this will indicate the interval of time during which the motor 246 must be energized in order to move the actuator 253 into engagement with a relay actuating abutment k shown therebeneath in FIGURE 5.

Abutment k is a part of an electromagnetic relay broadly designated at 260 which also includes two spaced pairs of spaced resilient contactors l, m, n, 0. The abutment k extends upwardly from the uppermost contactor l. Armatures p, q, in the form of leaf springs, are positioned between the respective pairs of contactors l, m, and n, 0. All the contactors l-o and armatures p, q are suitably insulatably supported and insulated from each other, as by means of a post r. The corresponding ends of armatures p, q extend through or are connected to an L-shaped bracket s which may be suitably insulated from armatures p, q and which is pivotally mounted, as at t, closely adjacent an electromagnet 261.

A conductor 262 connects one end of the coil of electromagnet 261 to conductor 223 and a conductor it connects the other end of the coil of electromagnet 261 to the contactor m. The end of conductor 193 remote from secondary winding 187 of transformer 185 is connected to armature p. A conductor 263 extends from contactor l to the side of timer motor 224 opposite from conductor 223. The conductors d, e extending from the coils 135 (FIGURE 6) of the respective slow speed and high speed clutches 124, 125 are connected to the respective contactors n, 0 (FIGURE 5). The armature q has a conductor 265 leading therefrom to one side of the output of rectifier 232 and the other side of the output of rectifier 232 has the end of conductor e-1 remote from high speed clutch 125 connected thereto.

As heretofore stated, the full can knock-off switch is provided so that the slow speed clutch 124 will be energized for a predetermined interval upon starting the drawing frame only following the doffing of a filled can and the donning of an empty can, but not upon restarting the machine during the run. Therefore, the function of the switch element 217 is to maintain the flow of current to the electromagnet 261 of relay 260 whenever the drawing frame is stopped at any time after the drawing frame is initially started following the doffing and donning operations, so that the high speed clutch 125 will be energized immediately upon restarting the drawing frame during the run.

In order to insure that the timer motor 224 will not be energized prematurely to start a cycle in the operation of the timer 226 as soon as a filled can removed from beneath the tube gear 39 permits the tube gear to drop downwardly in FIGURE 4 and thereby permit the switch elements 216, 217 to close, the relay K is provided for delaying the closing of the circuit to the timer motor 224 following the dofiing and donning operations and until the main switch 15 5 is actuated by the operator.

The coil 270 of the full can knock-off relay K has conductors 272, 273 connected to opposite ends thereof and leading to the respective conductors 191, 211. A manually operable control switch K-a is interposed in conductor 273. The conductor 222 is connected to one side of a normally open switch 11-6 of relay K and the other side of switch R-fi has a conductor w leading therefrom to conductor 273. Relay K also includes 21 normally open switch R7 to opposite sides of which corresponding ends of conductors 275, 276 are connected, the other ends of which are connected to conductors 262, 192, respectively.

When the slow speed clutch 124 is to be used upon starting the machine following the stopping of the machine only by the full-can knock-off switch 100, the switch K-a should occupy closed position. Conversely, when the slow speed clutch 124 is to be used for driving the drawing frame each time the machine is restarted, regardless of the reason for which it may have been stopped, the switch K-a should then remain in open position. Thus, switch K-a embodies a manually selective means which determines whether the clutch 124 is to operate only at the beginning of each canfilling cycle or every time the machine is started.

Method operation From the foregoing description, it is apparent that, whenever an operator closes the master start switch 170, this energizes the motor 105 and starts rotation of fan 87 (FIGURE 2) while also energizing the primary coil 184 of transformer 185. This insures that the control circuit cannot be operated and that clutches 124, 125 remain inactive until the suction fan 87 has started rotating. It is important that the suction clearer system is operating before the drafting rolls 10, calender rolls 37 and coiler mechanism 35 are operated to insure that residual fibers and other light foreign matter are withdrawn from the drafting instrumentalities at all times during the operation of the drawing frame.

However, before the drafting rolls, calender rolls and coiler mechanism are started, the switch actuator 253, in the lower central portion of FIGURE 5, is adjusted relative to dial 247 to set the same for the desired interval during which the drawing frame is to operate at slow speed. If the drawing frame is to operate at slow speed for the predetermined interval each time it is restarted following the initial starting of the drawing frame after an empty can 45 has been positioned on the turntable 44, the switch K-ais placed in open position. Conversely, if the operator wishes to have the drawing frame operate at slow speed for a predetermined interval only upon initially starting the drawing frame at the beginning of a can-filling cycle, but not following any stoppage of the drawing frame either manually or as a result of the occurrence of a fault in the operation of the drawing frame; i.e., at such times that the fault-responsive stop motion causes the drawing frame to stop, the switch K-a would then be placed in closed position.

The interval at which the drawing frame is to operate at slow speed in each instance depends upon the type of fibers being processed, the drawing operations to which the sliver may have been subjected previously, and whether or not the can 45 is provided with the false bottom such as that indicated at 46 in FIGURE 4. For example, it may be assumed that one-inch staple cotton sliver weighing about 40 grains per yard is to be breaker drawn through the drafting instrumentalities 10 and coiled into a can 45 having a diameter of about 16 inches and also having the false bottom 46 therein. In order that the sliver issuing from the throat 41 of coiler plate 39 will not be thrown outwardly and over the upper edge of coiler can 45 and false bottom 45 by the centrifugal force imparted thereto as it issues from the throat 41, the ratio between pulleys 111, 121 and the speed of motor shaft 106 (FIGURES l, 3 and 6) should be such that the sliver issues from the coiler plate throat 41 (FIGURE 4) at a speed of about 450 feet per minute for an interval of about 20 to 30 seconds.

Assuming the distance between the false bottom 46 wardly of the upper edge of the can 45. This indicates that approximately 150 to 225 feet of sliver are deposited on the false bottom 46 by the time the electric motor 224 (FIGURE 5) has rotated dial 247 and switch actuator 253 to where it will engage the switch abutment k to interrupt the flow of current to the slow speed clutch 124 and initiate the flow of current to high speed clutch 125, as will be later described.

If switch K-a in the upper right-hand portion of FIG- URE 5 is then open, timer 226 will also be effective to cause the drawing frame to operate at said slow speed for the previously determined interval of 20 to 30 seconds each time the drawing frame is restarted following stoppage thereof due to a fault in the processing of the slivers S through the drafting instrumentalities 10 such as the parting of any one or more of the strands of sliver S in their course to the drafting instrumentalities 10.

If a coiler can, such as can 45, is used which does not have a false bottom therein, such as is indicated at 46, in FIGURE 4, and assuming that the distance between the turntable 44 and the spectacle plate 42 is approximately 50 inches, from 2% to 8% of the sliver required to fill the coiler can 45 must be coiled therein from the coiler plate throat 41 in order to build up a sufficient amount of stock in the can so that the stock will engage the lower surface of the coiler plate 39. Thus, in such instances, the switch actuator 253 (FIGURE 5) would probably be so adjusted relative to the dial 247 that the drawing frame would operate at the relatively slow speed of, say, 450 feet per minute, for an interval of from 1 to 4 minutes.

In such instances, the operator may be willing to sacrifice a reduction in the quality of the sliver during the restarting of the drawing frame between intervals of initial starting thereof after an empty can has been placed on the turntable 44 (FIGURE 4). Accordingly, the switch K-a would occupy the closed position throughout the operation of the drawing frame so that current may only flow to the high speed clutch 125 each time the drawing frame is started, unless the pressure of the stock in a full can against the coiler plate 39 has caused the same to move upwardly relative to the spectacle plate 43 to cause the stoppage of the drawing frame. \Vhen a coiler can 45 is described herein as being full of stock or coiled sliver, this means that the stock in the can has been tightly compacted after it has built up against the tube gear and then contains the desired maximum weight of stock therein. A conventional 16 inch diameter coiler can, 48 inches high will hold approximately 50 pounds of coiled sliver. However, 3 to 6 pounds of coiled sliver normally will fill the space between the bottom of the can and the spectacle plate 43 before the stock starts to be compacted in the can. When the can 45 is equipped with a false'bottom, as little as /2 pound of coiler sliver may fill the space between the false bottom and the spectacle plate 43.

The slow speed intervals of operation of the drawing frame may be varied in accordance with the type of fibers being processed, the weight per yard, the diameter and height of the coiler can, and the number of drawing processes through which the sliver is passed. The maximum speed at which the drawing frame may operate during the slow speed intervals is also determined by the type of fibers, the weight per yard, the size of the coiler can, and the number of drawing processes. When the sliver is first drafted in a drawing frame, the maximum production at slow-speed operation might be about 450 feet per minute for a 40-grain-per-yard cotton sliver. In a second drawing process, the maximum production at slow-speed operation might be about 425 feet per minute, and it might be from 375 to 400 feet per minute during the intervals of slow-speed operation in a third drawing rocess, for example.

The operation of the electrical clutch control circuit will now be described.

Assumim that the main motor 105 is operating in the manner heretofore described and the remaining movable parts of the control circuit occupy the positions shown in FIGURE 5, upon actuating the manually operable start switch 195, coil 267 of relay 219 is energized as current flows from one side of secondary winding 136 through conductor 199, switch 195, conductor 211, coil 297, and conductor 191 to the other end of secondary Winding 186, thus causing all the switches R-1, R-2, R-3 to close.

Assuming that the can 45 of FIGURE 4 is empty and a full can has just been dotfed, regardless of whether or not the switch K-a is closed, energization of the coil 207 of master control relay 214) energizes timer motor 224 and slow speed clutch 124 simultaneously. Timer motor 224 is energized because current flows from one end of secondary winding 187 of transformer 185 through conductor 192, switch R-l, conductor 223, timer motor 22 conductor 263, contactor l, armature p and conductor 193 to the other end of secondary winding 187. At the same time, current flows from conductor 192 through conductor 23%, switch R-2, conductor 231, rectifier 232, and conductor 233 to conductor 193. This causes the rectifier 232 to produce a pulsating direct current which flows from one side of the rectifier 232 through conductor 265, through the armature q, through the contactor n then in engagement therewith, through the conductor d, through the coil of the slow speed clutch 124 and through the conductors d-1 and e1 to the other side of the rectifier 232, thus energizing the coil of the slow speed clutch 124 and starting operation of the drawing frame at the predetermined relatively slow speed.

The timer motor 224 then overcomes the opposing torque produced by torsion spring 252 and imparts clockwise rotation to dial 247 and switch actuator 253 until the switch actuator 253 engages and imparts downward movement to the abutment k. As abutment k moves downwardly, it moves armatures p, q and bracket s downwardly therewith until armatures p, q are moved into engagement with the respective contactors m, 0. In so doing, armature q moves out of engagement with contactor n to interrupt the flow of current to the coil of slow speed clutch 124 while causing current to'fiow from one side of the rectifier 232 through conductor 265, armature q, contactor 0, conductor e, the coil of high speed clutch 125 and conductor e-l to the other side of rectifier 232.

As anmature p engages contactor m, current flows from conductor 223 through conductor 262, the coil of electromagnet 261, conductor u, contactor m and armature p to the conductor 193, thus energizing the coil of electromagnet 261. In so doing, electromagnet 261 attracts bracket s so that it moves downwardly further than the distance to which it was moved thy engagement of switch actuator 253 with abutment k, thus moving armature p out of engagement with contactor l and interrupting the fiow of current to timer motor 224. As soon as the flow of current to timer motor 224 is interrupted, the torsion spring 252 imparts co unterclockwise movement to the dial 247, motor shaft 246 and switch actuator 253 to reset the same; i.e., until projection 250 is returned to zero position in engagement with abutment 251. Since the coil of slow speed clutch 124 is deenergized immediately upon energization of the coil of high speed relay 125, it is apparent that the main shaft 11 is then driven at the desired high speed.

As heretofore stated, whenever the drawing frame is stopped during the run, either manually or due to actuation of the fault-responsive stop motion 31a, in most instances it is desirable to restart the drawing frame at relatively slow speed; i.e., with the slow speed clutch 124 energized and the high speed clutch 125 deenergized, and in which instance the switch K-a would occupy open position. Thus, when the start switch 195- was released by the operator upon initially starting the drawing frame, energization of the coil 207 of master control relay 210 was maintained becaused current flowed from the conductor 190 through conductor 213, manually operable stop switch 197, conductor 21 5, switch R-4 of relay 2G3, conductor 215, switch element 216 of full-can knock-off switch 1%, conductor 2251, switch R3 of relay 210 and conductor 218, through a portion of conductor 211, through coil 207 of master control relay 211), and through conductor 191 to maintain energization of the coil 207 until either the fault-responsive stop motion 31a, is actuated to establish contact between conductors 204, 205 or until manually operable stop switch 197 or switch element 216 is opened. It is apparent that the opening of switch 197 or switch element 216 will interrupt the flow of current to the coil 207 of relay 210.

The fault-responsive stop motion 31a, when actuated, causes current to flow from conductor 190, through conductor 2&9, start switch 195, conductor 201, the coil 292 of relay 203, and conductors 254, 295 to conductor 191, thus energizing coil 232 and opening switch R-4 as switch R5 is closed. It is apparent that the opening of relay switch R-4 breaks the circuit to the coil 207 of master control relay 218. When relay switch R-5 is closed, current flows from conductor 192, through conductors 24% 237, relay switch R-5, conductor 235 and signal device 23 5 to conductor 193, thus energizing the signal device and warning the operator that the drawing frame has stopped due to faulty operation thereof.

When the coil 207 of master control relay 210 is deenergized in the manner heretofore described, this interrupts the flow of current to rectifier 232, thereby deenergizing the clutch 124 or 125 last energized and also deenergizing timer motor 224 in the event that it was still running at the time the drawing frame was stopped so the dial 247 of the timer will return to its starting position under influence of the torsion spring 252. Thus, upon the operator subsequently manually closing the start switch 195, a cycle in the operation of the clutches 124, 125 will be repeated in the manner heretofore described.

The circuit will operate to cycle the slow speed and high speed clutches 124, 125 in the same manner as that heretofore described whenever the machine has been stopped by operation of the full-can knock-off switch in the manner heretofore described thereby causing switch element 216 to move to open position. However, if the operator wishes to have the drawing frame start at slow speed only following the dofiing of each fall can containing its desired maximum amount of coiled sliver therein, while still being able to stop the drawing frame by manually opening the stop switch 197 or in response to any fault being detected by the fault-responsive stop motion 31a, the switch K-a must be closed to provide a holding circuit for the electromagnet 261 of timer control relay 261 when the fiow of current to high speed clutch is interrupted by deenergization of the coil 207 of master relay 210.

When manually operable switch K-a occupies closed position, the control circuit operates in substantially the same manner, following a full-can knock-off operation, as it does when the switch K-a occupies open position. However, when switch K-a is closed at the time main switch 195 is actuated for starting the drawing frame following a full-can knock-off operation, coil 270 of relay K is energized at the same time as master control relay 210 is energized because of current flowing from conductor 211 through conductor 273 and switch K-a, through coil 270 and conductor 272 to conductor 191, thus closing both of the relay switches R-S, R-7. Since tube gear 39 then occupies its normal position, switch element 217 would occupy closed position and provide a holding circuit for the coil 270, since current would then flow from conductor 190, through conductor 221, switch element 217, conductor 222, relay switch R6, conductors w, 273, coil 27!) of relay K and conductor 272 to conductor 191.

The timer would then operate in the same manner as that heretofore described when the switch K-a was open 15 so the drawing frame would initially be driven at slow speed until the electromagnet 2-61 of relay 216 is energized in the manner heretofore described. However, after the timer 226 has completed its cycle, instead of the circuit to the electromagnet 261 being broken each time the fault-responsive stop motion or the manual stop switch 197 is actuated during the subsequent cycle in the filling of the corresponding coiler can, the relay K would maintain energization of magnet 261 even though actuation of the fault-responsive stop motion or the opening of manually operable stop switch 197 would deenergize the high speed clutch 125 and stop the drawing frame.

The reason why magnet 261 would remain energized upon deenergization of the coil 207 of master control relay 210 is because current would continue to flow from secondary winding 187 through conductors 192, 276, switch R7, conductors 275, 262, electromagnet 261, conductor u, contactor m, armature p and conductor 193 back to the secondary winding 187.

Upon actuating switch 195 to restart the drawing frame at any time during the run, the timer 226 would not operate because of the armature p being spaced from the contactor l and the energization of rectifier 232 would immediately cause current to flow through the high speed clutch 125, because the magnet 261 would then be holding the armature q out of engagement with contactor n and in engagement with contactor 0. Of course, upon actuation of the full-can knock-off switch 100 by the elevating of the tube gear 39 in the manner heretofore described, both switch elements 216, 217 would be opened to break simultaneously the circuit to coils 207, 270 of relays 210, K. It should be noted that, even though the filled can of sliver is removed from beneath the tube gear 39 and thereby permits the tube gear 39 to return to its normal position, the consequent closing of switch element 217 will not cause energization of the coil 271) of relay K nor will it cause energization of magnet 261 of relay 260 until master switch 1*)5 is again actuated to initiate a repeat cycle in the filling of an empty coiler can.

Whenever the drawing frame is stopped, it may be jogged, or started temporarily, by the operator closing jog switch 196 for the desired length of time. Conductors 241), 241 and switch 196 are arranged to shunt the circuit to rectifier 232 across control relay 210 so that one or the other of the clutches 124, 125 is energized, without "energizing timer motor 224, depending upon which of the contactors m, the armature q is engaging at the time jog switch 196 is closed.

Referring to FIGURE 7 there is shown an electrical circuit particularly devised for the use of two separate motors for driving the drawing frame and the suction blower 87 and wherein the fan or blower motor is indicated at 290. Since the motor 290 may be connected to the shaft 90 of fan 87 in FIGURE 2 and the pulleys 150, 152 and endless belt 151 in FIGURES 1 and 2 may then be omitted, a detailed illustration of the drawing frame with the fan motor 290 provided in lieu of the belt 151 and pulleys 150, 152 is deemed unnecessary, since such illustration would only necessitate an undesirable increase in the number of drawings in the application. For purposes of description, those parts of the motor control circuit shown in FIGURE 7 which correspond to like or similar parts of the motor control circuit shown in the upper portion of FIGURE 5 shall bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added to avoid repetitive description, although the transformer 185 and its primary and secondary windings 184, 186, 187 shall bear the same reference characters in both FIGURES 5 and 7, since the same clutch control circuit is used with either of the motor control circuits shown in FIGURES 5 and 7.

It will be observed in FIGURE 7 that relay 164 and start and stop switches 17!), 180, for controlling main motor 105, are arranged in the circuit in very nearly the same manner in which relay 164 and switches 170, 180

are arranged in the circuit for main motor in the upper portion of FIGURE 5, with the important exception that conductors 165', 166, 167' do not extend directly from a source of electrical energy but, instead, are connected to respective conductors 291, 292, 293 extending between a relay 294 and electric motor 290. Thus, the circuit to the main motor 105 cannot be completed by closing start switch 170 unless the motor 290 for the blower or fan is first energized.

Accordingly, the ends of conductors 291-293 opposite from motor 290 are connected to corresponding sides of normally open switches A, B, C of relay 294 and the other sides of switches A, B, C are connected to corresponding ends of lead conductors 295, 297 leading to a suitable source of three-phase electrical energy, not shown. The coil 390 of relay 294 has conductors 301, 302 connected to opposite ends thereof. Conductor 301 extends to lead conduct-or 296, and conductor 302 extends to one side of a manually operable start switch 303.

The other side of start switch 303 is connected to a medial portion of a conductor 304 extending from lead conductor 297 to one side of a normally closed manual stop switch 305. The other side ofswitch 305 has a conductor 306 extending therefrom to one side of a normally open switch D of relay 294, from the other side of which a conductor 367 extends to conductor 332.

It is apparent that, upon closing manually operable start switch 303, current flows through c-oil 300 of relay 294 from lead conductors 296, 297, thus closing switches AD to energize fan motor 290 and to provide a holding circuit for the coil 300 until such time as stop switch 305 may be opened. Thereafter, the circuit for the main motor 105' and for the primary coil 184 of transformer 185 may be completed in the same manner as that described with respect to the main motor 105 in FIGURE 5. Accordingly, a further description of the various elements of the circuit for the main motor 105' will not be described herein.

With the exception of transposition of one of the clutches and the corresponding adjustable pulley, the structure shown in FIGURE 8 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURE 1. Therefore, in order to avoid repetitive description, all the parts shown in FIG- URE 8 shall bear the same reference characters as like parts shown in FIGURE 1 with the prime notation added and only the differences in the drive mechanism of FIG- URE 8, as compared to that of FIGURE 1, will be described. It may be assumed that the motor circuit of FIGURE 7 is being used with the embodiment of FIG- URE 8.

The transmission 1111 in FIGURE 8 differs from the transmission in FIGURE 1 in that the high speed clutch is mounted on the driving shaft 106' and the variable pitch or adjustable pulley 112' is mounted on the driven or main shaft 11. Therefore, the stator of high speed clutch 125 is suitably secured to the casing of electric motor 105' instead of being secured to the bracket 134' to which the stator 130' of slow speed clutch 124' is secured. In all other respects, the clutches 124', 125 may be of the same construction as and may be operated in the same manner as the clutches 124, 125 of the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. Therefore, a further description of the second embodiment of the invention is deemed unnecessary.

It is apparent that the positions of the slow speed clutch 124' and the pulley 111' may also be transposed, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Since both the shafts 106, 106' may be driven at constant speed throughout the operation of the corresponding drawing frame, it is apparent that a separate motor need not be provided for driving the fan 87 when using the transmission 110' of FIGURE 8, even though the separate motor 290 has been described in conjunction with the second embodiment of the invention.

It is thus seen that I have provided embodiments of an improved drive mechanism for textile machines having coilers and drafting instrumentalities in which the machine may be initially started at a slow maximum speed and maintained at said slow speed for a predetermined interval after which the machine will automatically be driven at a predetermined high speed and wherein, at the will of the operator, the drive mechanism can be caused to drive the machine at slow speed following the stoppage of the machine for any reason whatsoever or only following dofiing of a filled can and the donning of an empty can on the coiler mechanism. It is seen further that I have provided a drive mechanism of the character described which is so arranged that the suction clearer system for the drafting instrumentalities of such a machine must be operating before the improved drive mechanism may be actuated; i.e., before the drawing frame or other textile machine may be started.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a textile machine having drafting instrumentalities, means for coiling sliver drafted by the instrumentalities into a can, a suction clearer system for withdrawing residual fibers from said instrumentalities and including a suction blower, and a main shaft operatively connected to said drafting instrumentalities and said coiling means for driving the same; the combination therewith of (a) a substantially constant speed driving shaft,

(b) means for rotating said constant speed driving shaft,

(c) means for driving said suction blower,

((1) transmission means including normal-1y inactive clutch means operatively interconnecting said shafts,

(e) said clutch means being operable to transmit relatively slow speed and high speed rotation from said driving shaft to said main shaft,

(f) means for starting the machine and including means for initially activating said clutch means to transmit slow speed rotation from said driving shaft to said main shaft,

(g) time delay means responsive to initial activation of said clutch means and being operable at a predetermined time thereafter for further activating said clutch means to drive the machine at the high speed, and

(h) means operatively interconnecting said rotating means (b) and said suction blower driving means (c) for rendering inoperable said rotating means at any time other than during operation of said suction blower driving means.

2. In a textile machine having drafting instrumentalities and a coiler for coiling sliver drafted by the instrumentalities into successive cans one at a time and wherein the filling of each successive can with a predetermined amount of compacted sliver defines a cycle in the operation of the machine; the combination therewith of (a) a substantially constant speed driving element,

(b) a first normally inactive slow speed clutch and a second normally inactive high speed clutch operatively connecting said element in driving relation to said instrumentalities and said coiler,

(c) a normally inactive manually operable starting member,

((1) means normally responsive to activation of said starting member for activating said first clutch to drive said instrumentalities and said coiler at a substantially constant slow speed,

(c) a timing device including means for interrupting activation of said first clutch and activating said second clutch following a predetermined interval of activation of said first clutch for driving said instrumentalities and said coiler at a predetermined higher speed,

(f) stop motion means for interrupting activation of the corresponding active one of said clutches during a machine cycle,

(g) manually selective means for maintaining inactive said first clutch following said predetermined interval after initial activation of said first clutch at the beginning of each said cycle and being operable to effect activation of said second clutch only at any time said starting member is activated thereafter during the corresponding cycle, and

(h) means responsive to completion of each said cycle for inactivating said second clutch to stop the machine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,022 8/1899 Mar-sden 19106 1,132,878 3/1915 Pilling 19-106 2,246,454 6/1941 Peloquin 19--150 2,811,753 11/1957 Whithurst 19-239 X 2,856,044 10/1958 Koenig et al. 192-145 X 2,862,249 12/1958 Dudley et a1. 19263 X 3,103,838 9/1963 Beacom et a1 192-146 X 3,187,970 6/1963 Rayve 226-43 FCREIGN PATENTS 3,277 1869 Great Britain. 7,002 1895 Great Britain. 189,354 11/ 1922 Great Britain. 586,404 3/1947 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DORSEY NEWTON, Examiner. 

1. IN A TEXTILE MACHINE HAVING DRAFTING INSTRUMENTALITIES, MEANS FOR COILING SLIVER DRAFTED BY THE INSTRUMENTALITIES INTO A CAN, A SUCTION CLEARER SYSTEM FOR WITHDRAWING RESIDUAL FIBERS FROM SAID INSTRUMENTALITIES AND INCLUDING A SUCTION BLOWER, AND A MAIN SHAFT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID DRAFTING INSTRUMENTALITIES AND SAID COILING MEANS FOR DRIVING THE SAME; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT SPEED DRIVING SHAFT, (B) MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONSTANT SPEED DRIVING SHAFT, (C) MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID SUCTION BLOWER, (D) TRANSMISSION MEANS INCLUDING NORMALLY INACTIVE CLUTCH MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID SHAFTS, (E) SAID CLUTCH MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO TRANSMIT RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED AND HIGH SPEED ROTATION FROM SAID DRIVING SHAFT TO SAID MAIN SHAFT, (F) MEANS FOR STARTING THE MACHINE AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR INITIALLY ACTIVATING SAID CLUTCH MEANS TO TRANSMIT SLOW SPEED ROTATION FROM SAID DRIVING SHAFT TO SAID MAIN SHAFT, (G) TIME DELAY MEANS RESPONSIVE TO INITIAL ACTIVATION OF SAID CLUTCH MEANS AND BEING OPERABLE AT A PREDETERMINED TIME THEREAFTER FOR FURTHER ACTIVATING SAID CLUTCH MEANS TO DRIVE THE MACHINE AT THE HIGH SPEED, AND (H) MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERCONNECTING SAID ROTATING MEANS (B) AND SAID SUCTION BLOWER DRIVING MEANS (C) FOR RENDERING INOPERABLE SAID ROTATING MEANS AT ANY TIME OTHER THAN DURING OPERATION OF SAID SUCTION BLOWER DRIVING MEANS. 